Airbag device

ABSTRACT

An airbag device including an airbag that provides more effective protection of an occupant. The airbag has an indentation located approximately in the center of a contact surface thereof. The indentation is formed in the shape of a recess or a valley to form the airbag into a heart-like shape. The area including the indentation is at least greater than an area where comes in contact with the face of an occupant. The deepest point of the dent (the farthest point from the occupant in the contact surface) is positioned below the jaw of the occupant. The contact surface extending from the deepest point of the dent to the upper projection top thereof overhangs toward the occupant to have an angle between 0° and 45° (preferably, between 15° and 25°) relative to the cervical vertebrae axis of the occupant.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a Divisional Application of Ser. No. 09/776,637, filed Feb. 6,2001, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,536,800 which in turn claims priority to andthe benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/185,064,filed Feb. 25, 2000.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to an airbag device in which an airbag isinflated to protect an occupant in the event of vehicle collision. Moreparticularly, the present invention relates to an airbag device of whichan airbag has an improved configuration accomplishing more effectiveprotection of an occupant.

The following publications are generally related to airbag devices,however, none of the publications has a suggestion or disclosure of thesame or similar device and structure proposed by the present invention.The publications are: Japanese Patent Publication No. H08-32511;Japanese Patent Publication No. S49-23176; Japanese Patent UnexaminedPublication No. H04-56655; Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication No.H06-191366; Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication No. H06-171447;Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication No. H05-58243; Japanese PatentUnexamined Publication No. 2000-118341; and Japanese Patent UnexaminedPublication No. H11-5505.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide an airbag device ofwhich an airbag has an improved configuration accomplishing moreeffective protection of an occupant.

In order to solve the above-described problems, an airbag deviceaccording to the first aspect of the present invention is an airbagdevice comprising an airbag which is normally housed in an upper portionof an instrument panel and is inflated/deployed toward the front of anoccupant in the event of emergency, wherein the configuration in a sideview of the airbag when fully deployed has the following threecharacteristics:

-   -   (1) the lower end of the airbag is positioned at least lower        than the chest of the occupant;    -   (2) a dent or indentation is formed between an upper portion and        a lower portion of the front face of the airbag so as to        maintain the airbag in a heart-like configuration when the lower        portion is pressed; and    -   (3) an area including the dent is at least greater than an area        coming in contact with the face of the occupant.

According to this configuration, the lower portion of the airbag ispressed by at least a portion under the chest of the occupant so thatpressure is supplied from the lower portion to the upper portion of theairbag so as to increase the inner pressure in the upper portion of theairbag. Therefore, the efficiency of absorbing energy is increased andthe moving distance of the occupant until stops is reduced, therebyeliminating the requirement of setting the output of the inflator highand achieving more safe restraint of the occupant in the initial stage.The high efficiency of absorbing energy also allows the reduction in thevolume of the airbag. Since the frontward movement of the occupant untilthe occupant makes contact with the airbag is increased by the dent, theoccupant comes in contact with the airbag after an amount kinetic energyof the occupant is absorbed by a seat belt.

In the aforementioned airbag device, the dent may be formed in any shapelike a recess or a valley in the airbag.

An airbag device according to the second aspect of the present inventioncomprises an airbag which is normally housed in an upper portion of aninstrument panel and is inflated/deployed toward the front of anoccupant in the event of emergency, wherein the front face of an upperhalf of the airbag overhangs toward the occupant to have an anglebetween 0° and 45° (preferably, between 15° and 25°) relative to thecervical vertebrae axis of the occupant when the head of the occupantjust comes into contact with the airbag in the event of emergency.

Since the front face of the airbag overhangs toward the occupant asmentioned above, a portion corresponding to the mass point(gravitational centers) of the head of the occupant comes into contactwith the front face of the airbag, thereby more efficiently restrainingthe head of the occupant in the initial stage.

An airbag device of the third aspect of the present invention comprisesan airbag which is normally housed in an upper portion of an instrumentpanel and is inflated/deployed toward the front of an occupant in theevent of emergency, wherein a dent is formed between an upper portionand a lower portion of the front face of the airbag, and the front faceof the airbag overhangs toward the occupant in such a manner that anarea of the front face extending from the deepest point of the dent toan upper projection top makes contact with portions corresponding to themass points (gravitational centers) of the heads of occupants ofdifferent builds.

Since the front face of the airbag overhangs toward the occupant asmentioned above, the mass point of the head of the occupant can earlyrestrained. Therefore, the efficiency of absorbing energy is increased,thereby more efficiently restraining the head of the occupant in theinitial stage.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description andthe following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only,and are not restrictive of the invention as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the presentinvention will become apparent from the following description, appendedclaims, and the accompanying exemplary embodiments shown in thedrawings, which are briefly described below.

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view showing a front-passenger airbag device,in the fully deployed state, according to the present invention;

FIG. 2(A) is a schematic side view of the front-passenger airbag deviceaccording to the present invention in a situation where the occupant ofthe vehicle has begun to move forward;

FIG. 2(B) is a schematic side view of the front-passenger airbag deviceaccording to the present invention in a situation where the face of theoccupant just comes in contact with the airbag;

FIG. 2(C) is a schematic side view of the front-passenger airbag deviceaccording to the present invention in a situation where the occupant isrestrained by the airbag;

FIG. 3(A) is a perspective view of an airbag according to the presentinvention in the deployed state;

FIG. 3(B) is a plan view showing three pieces of panels that a part ofthe air bag of FIG. 3(A).

FIG. 4 is a view showing an airbag according to an example of thepresent invention.

FIG. 5 is a view showing an airbag according to an example of thepresent invention.

FIG. 6 is a view showing an airbag according to an example of thepresent invention.

FIG. 7 is a view showing an airbag according to an example of thepresent invention.

FIG. 8 is a view showing an airbag according to an example of thepresent invention.

FIG. 9 is a view showing an airbag according to an example of thepresent invention.

FIG. 10 is a view showing an airbag according to an example of thepresent invention.

FIG. 11 is a view showing an airbag according to an example of thepresent invention.

FIG. 12 is a view showing an airbag according to an example of thepresent invention.

FIG. 13 is a view showing an airbag according to an example of thepresent invention.

FIG. 14(A) is a perspective view of an airbag according to an example ofthe present invention.

FIG. 14(B) is a sectional side view of the airbag of FIG. 14(A).

FIG. 15 is a view showing an airbag according to an example of thepresent invention.

FIG. 16 is a view showing an airbag according to an example of thepresent invention.

FIG. 17 is a view showing an airbag having a gas flow defusing function.

FIG. 18 is a view showing an airbag in which the lower projection iseliminated.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Brief description will now be made as regard to main functions of anairbag device according to a representative embodiment of the presentinvention. It should be noted that a portion of an airbag to be pressedby the occupant's chest or abdomen is called as a abdominal bag portionand a portion of the airbag to be pressed by the occupant's head iscalled as a head bag portion.

The occupant's chest or abdomen first presses the airbag so that thechest or abdomen is the first place which receives reaction from theairbag. Then, the occupant's head receives reaction. Even when the innerpressure of the airbag is increased, the heart-like configuration of theairbag is maintained.

According to this configuration, the abdominal bag portion is depressedby the abdomen or the chest of the occupant so as to increase the innerpressure of the airbag. Since the heart-like configuration ismaintained, gas pressure is hard to leak out and the reaction of theabdominal bag portion is increased so that the efficiency of restrainingthe occupant's abdomen at the initial stage is increased. Since theairbag has a dent, the area where the dent is formed does not deform somuch. Therefore, the head bag portion can be filled with gas withoutreducing the inner pressure. As a result of this, the inner pressure ofthe head bag portion is higher than that of a conventional airbag.Therefore, the efficiency of restraining the occupant's head isincreased so as to shorten the stroke (moving distance) of theoccupant's head. This allows the reduction in the output of an inflatoror the reduction in the volume of the entire airbag.

The airbag is configured so as to have a slanted surface from thedeepest position of the dent to an upper projection end of the head bagportion, wherein the slant surface makes contact with a position on theoccupant's face corresponding to the point of gravitational center (masspoint; MP) of the head. The MP position is located approximately betweenthe eyebrows. Because the seated height depends on the occupant's build,the slanted surface is set so that the deepest position of the dent ispositioned below the jaw of a person who has a low seated height and theupper projection end of the head bag portion is positioned above theposition between the eyebrows of a person who has a high seated height,thereby coping with various persons. In detail, the slant surfaceoverhangs to have an angle between 0° and 45° (preferably, between 15°and 25°) relative to the cervical vertebrae axis of the occupant whenthe head of the occupant just comes into contact with the airbag.

According to this configuration, the restraining force of the head bagportion is concentrated at the mass point (center of gravity) of theoccupant's head, thereby most efficiently absorbing the kinetic energyof the occupant's head. There are a lot of cases where a small occupantwho puts on a seat belt sits in a vehicle seat in the front-mostposition. When such an occupant plunges into the airbag in the event ofemergency, the frontward movement of the occupant is allowed by thedent. In these situations, the stroke for the forward movement of theoccupant is increased. After some kinetic energy is absorbed by the seatbelt, some further kinetic energy can be absorbed by the airbag, therebyfurther effectively restraining the occupant.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described with reference toattached drawings.

Though, in the following embodiments, description will be made as regardto an airbag device for protecting a front passenger (hereinafter,referred to as “front-passenger airbag device”) which is of a type to bemounted on the top of a dashboard, the present invention can be appliedto any airbag device other than the front-passenger airbag device.

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view showing a front-passenger airbag device,in the fully deployed state, according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

The airbag device shown in FIG. 1 has a retainer R which is disposed ata position facing to a windshield F positioned above an instrument panelP of a vehicle. Arranged in the retainer R are an airbag 11 made oftextile fabric and formed in an envelope shape, and an inflator I forsupplying gas for deployment into the airbag 11. The airbag 11 isnormally folded and accommodated in the retainer R. The volume of theairbag 11 is in a range from 110 to 132 liters when the airbag 11 is ofa small size. The airbag 11 has a throttled open end (gas inlet) 11 cformed at the root thereof. The open end 11 c is connected to a space ofthe inflator I. On the right side (in the drawing) of the airbag 11 is acontact surface or front face 11 a which can come in contact with theoccupant.

The airbag 11 has an indentation or dent 11 b formed around the centerof the contact surface 11 a. The dent 11 b is like a recess or a valleyin the airbag to form the airbag into a heart-like or heart shape, asdescribed later. The area including the dent 11 b (the entire area wherethe dent is formed) is greater than an area where comes in contact withthe face of a small-sized occupant H2. The deepest point of theindentation or dent 11 b (the farthest point from the occupant in thecontact surface 11 a) is positioned below the jaw J2 of the small-sizedoccupant H2.

FIG. 1 shows two occupants H1, H2 of different builds. The distancebetween the jaw J1 of the occupant H1 and the contact surface 11 a ofthe deployed airbag 11 is indicated by L1 and the distance between thejaw J2 of the occupant H2 and the contact surface 11 a of the deployedairbag 11 is indicated by L2. L1, L2 may be 100 mm or the like. Forcomparison, a contact surface 103 a of a conventional airbag is alsoshown and the distance between the contact surface 103 a and the jaw J2of the occupant H2 is indicated by L102.

As shown in FIG. 1, in the airbag device according to this embodiment,the existence of the dent 11 b can make the distance L2 between theoccupant H2 and the contact surface 11 a to a length not so differentfrom the distance L1 between the occupant H1 and the contact surface 11a. Therefore, the occupant H2 comes in contact with the airbag 11 aftera portion of the kinetic energy of the occupant is absorbed by the seatbelt enough.

The mass points (points of gravitational center) of the heads of theoccupants H1, H2 are represented by MPL, MPS, respectively, in FIG. 1.In the airbag device according to this embodiment, the front face of thebag overhangs toward the occupants H1, H2 in such a manner that an areaof the front face 11 a extending from the deepest point of the dent 11 band an upper projection top thereof makes contact with portionscorresponding to the mass points MPL, MPS of the heads of the occupantsH1, H2 of different builds. This configuration that the front face ofthe bag overhangs toward the occupant can achieve more safe restraint ofthe occupant in the initial stage.

Description will now be made as regard to the configurations andfunctions of the airbag device according to the embodiment during theabsorbing action (during the forward movement of the occupant) withreference to FIGS. 2(A)–2(C). FIGS. 2(A)–2(C) are schematic side viewsshowing the configurations of the front-passenger airbag deviceaccording to the present invention during the absorbing action (duringthe forward movement of the occupant). FIG. 2(A) shows a state that theoccupant starts to move forward, FIG. 2(B) shows a state that the faceof the occupant just comes in contact with the airbag, and FIG. 2(C)shows a state that the occupant is restrained by the airbag.

As shown in FIG. 2(A), the abdomen or chest of the occupant firsttouches the airbag 11 when the occupant starts to move forward. Insidethe airbag 11, blank arrows indicate reactive force (pressure). In thisembodiment, the upward flow of the pressure is restricted because of theheart-like configuration, thereby securely restraining the occupant atthe initial stage. For this purpose, the airbag 11 should be formed sothat the heart-like configuration of the airbag is maintained even whenthe lower portion of the airbag is pressed.

FIG. 2(B) shows a state that the face of the occupant just comes incontact with the airbag. In FIG. 2(B), the deepest point of the dent 11b is positioned below the jaw of the occupant and the contact surface 11a extending from the deepest point of the dent 11 b to the upperprojection top thereof overhangs toward the occupant to have an angle ofbetween 0° and 45° (preferably, between 15° and 25°) relative to thecervical vertebrae axis AX of the occupant when the head of the occupantjust comes into contact with the airbag. That is, a point ofintersection between a line FF formed by the aforementioned contactsurface 11 a and the cervical vertebrae axis AX of the occupant ispositioned above the head of the occupant and the angle θ formedtherebetween is from 0° to 45° (preferably, from 15° to 25°). Thisachieves the secure restraint of the point of gravitational center MP(about a position between eyebrows) of the occupant's head, thus mosteffectively absorbing the kinetic energy of the occupant's head.

FIG. 2(C) shows a state that the occupant is completely restrained bythe airbag. As the occupant further moves forward from the state shownin FIG. 2(B), the occupant's abdomen presses the lower portion of theairbag 11 so that the lower portion of the airbag is compressed. As theheart-like configuration of the airbag is maintained even when thepressure inside the airbag is increased, there is little leak of gaspressure and thus the reactive force in the lower portion of the airbagis increased, thereby increasing the efficiency of restraining theoccupant at the initial stage. The occupant's abdomen depresses thelower portion of the bag, but the heart-like configuration is maintainedso that the gas pressure is effectively supplied to the upper portion ofthe airbag. As a result of this, the inner pressure of the upper portionof the airbag is increased, thus increasing the efficiency of absorbingthe energy by the upper portion of the airbag. After that, theoccupant's head is restrained by the upper portion of the airbag 11.

During this sequential restraining action, there is little leak ofpressure and the efficiency of the airbag to absorb the energy of theoccupant is increased, thus shortening the stroke of the head. Thedesign of the present invention can eliminate the requirement of settingthe output of the inflator I high and allows an airbag of a small volumeto be employed. In addition, the occupant can come in contact with theairbag after kinetic energy is sufficiently absorbed by the seat belt.

Hereinafter, embodiments of an airbag according to the present inventionwill be described with reference to the attached drawings. The followingembodiments or examples have been developed by using various methods toachieve the fact that the heart-like configuration is maintained evenwhen the lower portion is depressed.

FIGS. 3(A), 3(B) are views that disclose an embodiment of an airbagaccording to the present invention. FIG. 3(A) is a perspective view ofthe airbag in the deployed state, and FIG. 3(B) is a plan view showingthree separate panel that form the airbag. The airbag is made byconnecting the three pieces of panel together.

In FIG. 3(A), an airbag 11 made by connecting three pieces of panels 14,15, 16 is shown. The airbag 11 has a throttled open end 11 c formed atthe root thereof. The front face of the airbag 11 is a contact surface11 a which can come in contact with an occupant. The airbag is providedwith a dent 11 b formed around the middle of the contact surface 11.

In FIG. 3(B), plan views of the panels 14, 15, 16 are shown. For formingthe dent 11 b, the panels 14, 15, 16 are formed with cutouts 14 a, 15 a,15 b, 16 a, respectively. By connecting the panels along these cutouts,a three-dimensional recessed portion, i.e. the dent 11 b can be formed.Various configurations of the airbag can be accomplished by changing therespective configurations of the three pieces of panels.

FIG. 4 discloses another embodiment of an airbag according to thepresent invention. In this example, the airbag is made by connecting onepiece of panel. In FIG. 4, a plan view of one piece of panel 21 isshown. The panel 21 is in a shape just like a shape that parts of thepanels 14, 15, 16 shown in FIG. 3(B) are connected. The one piece panelconfiguration facilitates the manufacturing and assembly of the airbag.

FIG. 5 discloses an alternative embodiment of the present invention. Asshown in FIG. 5, the airbag further includes a tether belt located atthe dent of the airbag. In FIG. 5, an airbag 11 just like the airbagshown in FIG. 3(A) is shown. One end of a tether belt 25 is sewn to aninner surface near the dent 11 b of the airbag 11. The other end of thetether belt 25 is sewn to an inner surface near the open end 11 c. Theexpansion ratio of the tether belt 25 is lower than that of the airbag11. The tether belt 25 may be a cord or ribbon. The addition of thetether belt 25 ensures to keep the heart shape of the airbag during thedeployment of the airbag.

FIG. 6 discloses still another embodiment of an airbag according to thepresent invention. As shown in FIG. 6, the airbag is similar to aconventional airbag but including a tether belt. In FIG. 6, aconventional airbag 27 without a dent portion is shown. One end of atether belt 29 is sewn to an inner surface near the center of the airbag27. The other end of the tether belt 29 is sewn to an inner surface nearthe open end 27 c. The portion about the center is pulled by the tetherbelt 29 during the inflation of the airbag 27 so as to form a dentportion. Since this example can use a conventional airbag, themanufacturing is easy.

FIG. 7 discloses yet another embodiment of an airbag according to thepresent invention. This example includes a band arranged around aportion of an airbag where a dent is formed. In FIG. 7, an airbag 11just like the airbag as shown in FIG. 3(A) is shown. A band 31 isarranged around a periphery of the dent 11 b of the airbag 11. Ends ofthe band 31 are sewn to portions near the open end 11 c.

FIG. 8 discloses is a further embodiment of an airbag according to thepresent invention. This example includes tether belts sewn to portionsaround a dent of an airbag. In FIG. 8, an airbag 11 just like the airbagcomposed of plural pieces of panels as shown in FIG. 3(B) is shown. Asshown in FIG. 8, tether belts are sewn to portions near the cutouts 14a, 16 a of the panels 14, 16, respectively. The illustration of thetether belt 33 on the panel 16 is shown by dotted line. Ends of thetether belts 33 are sewn to portions near the open end 11 c.

FIG. 9 discloses another embodiment of an airbag according to thepresent invention. This example is a combination of two airbags. Asshown in FIG. 9, a combined airbag composed of two airbags 35, 37 isshown. Two holes 39 a, 39 b are formed in a boundary between the airbags35, 37 which are bonded together. These holes 39 a, 39 b allow thecommunication of gas. Front faces of the airbags 35, 37 corporate toform a dent 37 a around the boundary therebetween.

FIG. 10 discloses a different embodiment of an airbag according to thepresent invention. This example is an another example of a combinationof two airbags. In FIG. 10, a combined airbag composed of two airbags35, 27 is shown. A plurality of slit-like openings 41 are formed in aboundary between the airbags 35, 37 which are bonded together. Theseopenings 41 allow the communication of gas. It should be noted that thenumber of airbags to be combined, the configuration of the airbag, thenumber of openings, and the configuration of the opening are not limitedthereto.

FIG. 11 discloses a further embodiment of an airbag according to thepresent invention. This example is an airbag made by connecting fourpieces of panels. FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view showing anairbag 45 made by connecting four pieces of panels. The airbag 45comprises side panels 47 a, 47 b which are each formed in a guitar-likeshape, and upper and lower panels 49 a, 49 b which are each bent into aU-like shape. A plurality of slit-like openings 41 are formed inportions of the upper and lower panels 49 a, 49 b to be bonded together.These openings 41 allow the communication of gas.

FIG. 12 discloses yet another embodiment of the present invention. Thisexample is an example employing two airbags. In FIG. 12, two airbags 51,52 are shown. Two inflators I are provided for the airbags 51, 52,respectively. The front faces of the airbags 51, 52 cooperate to form adent 51 a therebetween.

FIG. 13 discloses another embodiment of an airbag according to thepresent invention. This example is an example employing three airbags.As shown in FIG. 13, three airbags 53, 54, 55 are shown. Three inflatorsI are provided for the airbags 53, 54, 55, respectively. The front facesof the airbags 53, 54, 55 cooperate to form dents 53 a, 54 a between theairbags 53, 54 and between the airbags 54, 55.

FIGS. 14(A), 14(B) are views for explaining another alternativeembodiment of an airbag according to the present invention. FIG. 14(A)is a perspective view of an airbag of this example, and FIG. 14(B) is asectional side view of the airbag. This example is a conventionalairbag, but, of which a part is gathered by sewing.

As shown in FIGS. 14(A), 14(B), a conventional airbag 27, originallyhaving no dent portion, of which a part is gathered by sewing is shown.A sewn portion 27 a is formed around the periphery of the airbag 27. Agathered portion 61 is formed to horizontally extend at a portion aboutthe center of the front face of the airbag 27. This gathered portion 61forms a dent. Since this example can use a conventional airbag, themanufacturing is easy.

FIG. 15 is a view for explaining yet another one of the examplesaccording to the present invention. This example is another example inwhich a conventional airbag is used and parts thereof are gathered bysewing. In FIG. 15, a conventional airbag 27, originally having no dentportion, of which parts are gathered by sewing is shown. Two gatheredportions 63 are formed at side portions of the front face of the airbag27. These gathered portions 63 form a dent in a front face of the airbag27.

FIG. 16 is a view for explaining still another one of the examplesaccording to the present invention. This example is an airbag havingthree projecting portions.

In FIG. 16, an airbag 71 having three projecting portions 71 a, 71 b, 71c is shown. Any one of the methods of making the airbags of theaforementioned examples can be employed as the method of making theairbag 71. The number of projecting portions may be changed to three.The airbag includes a second indentation in the upper portion of theairbag between the upper two projections 71 a, 71 b.

Though the airbag device according to the embodiment of the presentinvention has been described with reference to FIGS. 1 through 16, thepresent invention is not limited thereto. Various modifications may bemade as described in the following.

A gas flow defusing function may be added to the airbag. FIG. 17 is aview showing an airbag having a gas flow defusing function. A fabricdefuser 81 as an example of a device for the gas flow defusing functionis arranged inside of the airbag 11. The defuser 81 is formed in anenvelope shape and has an open end at the left side in the drawing whichis connected to a space of an inflator I. The defuser 81 has holes ormeshes formed at positions indicated by arrows in order to introducespouted gas in upward and downward directions. This stabilizes theconfiguration of the airbag and restricts the deploying direction,thereby speeding up the deployment of the airbag.

Furthermore, the present invention can be achieved by an airbag in whichthe projection is eliminated. For example, FIG. 18 is a view showing afurther embodiment of the airbag in which the lower projection iseliminated. The airbag 11 shown in FIG. 18 does not have the lowerprojection and thus does not have the dent. However, the contact surface11 a of the airbag 11 to the occupant also overhangs toward the occupantto have an angle between 0° and 45° (preferably, between 15° and 25°)relative to the cervical vertebrae axis AX of the occupant (see FIG.2(B)). That is, a point of intersection between a line FF formed by theaforementioned contact surface 11 a and the cervical vertebrae axis AXof the occupant is positioned above the head of the occupant and theangle θ formed therebetween is from 0° to 45° (preferably, from 15° to25°). According to this configuration, the functions according to claims3, 4 can be obtained, the volume of the airbag can be reduced, and theoutput of the inflator can be also reduced, thus allowing theminiaturization of the airbag and the inflator.

As apparent from the above description, the present invention providesan airbag device of which an airbag has an improved configurationaccomplishing more effective protection of an occupant.

Given the disclosure of the present invention, one versed in the artwould appreciate that there may be other embodiments and modificationswithin the scope and spirit of the invention. Accordingly, allmodifications attainable by one versed in the art from the presentdisclosure within the scope and spirit of the present invention are tobe included as further embodiments of the present invention. The scopeof the present invention is to be defined as set forth in the followingclaims.

1. An airbag for protecting an occupant of a vehicle, the airbag beinghoused in an instrument panel of the vehicle and comprising: a frontfabric panel configured so that when the airbag is inflated the frontpanel faces the occupant, the front panel having upper and lowerportions, wherein the upper portion of the front panel of the airbag ispositioned to contact the face of the occupant when the airbag isinflated in the case of an emergency; a rear panel having an opening forreceiving inflation gas into a chamber formed by the front and rearpanels; and a seam connecting the rear panel to the front panel, whereinthe airbag includes a gathered portion that extends into the chamber toform an indentation, wherein the gathered portion includes stitching toform the indentation, and wherein the gathered portion is positioned inthe front panel between the upper and lower portions of the front panel.2. The airbag of claim 1, wherein the stitching runs generallyhorizontally between the upper and lower portions of the front panel. 3.The airbag of claim 2, wherein the gathered portion is located only inthe front panel.